Thursday, April 17, 2008

1) Do not argue with her, even though she offers no argument, rational or otherwise, for this decision.

2) Do not allow other family members to argue with her (it may make her more stubborn).

3) Plan a weeks menu which is made up of all her favourite meaty meals.

4) Buy a pack of tofu.

5) Add tofu to a tomato and vegetable sauce and pour over pasta. Include plenty of said daughters least favourite vegetables.

6) Inform daughter that as you will not be cooking separate meals every day she will be eating this meal for the next five days as that is how many meals the pack of tofu made.

7) Smile sweetly and order a cheeseburger and chips when hubby offers to buy everyone else takeaway for dinner.

8) Talk about forthcoming meal out in TGI Fridays and remind daughter that she can have a veggie burger or salad but that you'll have to check out what the chips are fried in.

9) Encourage daughter every step of the way.

10) When daughter comes to her senses realises that she no longer wants to be a vegetarian smile sweetly and impress on her that you don't want to hear her utter those words for at least another six years!

Excellent Beccy! Very good indeed and so clever! I pulled that when I was a teen. Mam told me I had to cook for myself. I did for three years... but it was the smell of bacon that brought me back... mmm... bacon! :)

i was veggie for a year in my teens but to be honest i didn't really notice as my mum cooked some great grub. i eventually got her away from veggieness when a cooked up some lovely bacon. always works!

Hello first time poster, spotted you in Mulley's links. Why is it a bad thing for your daughters to become vegetarians? I became one at 12 and now at 25 I still am and whilst I love the smell of bacon, I've never regretted it. It's a healthier lifestyle and does encourage kids to eat veggies. In fact it also helps them become focused and committed to something as many teenagers just are not.

Yes, for some kids it's a phase but for others not so. I think this post is unnecessarily condescending towards vegetarians and people who are trying to change their lives. You should try to support your kids, even if they give up a week later.

jothemama and eatersregret thank you for visiting my blog although I get the impression you are out to judge and condemn me albeit in the nicest possible way.

eatersgret I am far from a first time poster, prehaps you should have done a little research before criticising me. I didn't eat meat for nearly tens years from the age of 17. I had my reasons, which I felt were valid (and still do today) and after research was able to offer a reason to my parents which they supported.

My daughter on the other hand was jumping on some faddish bandwagon that was going through her class. She had no reason other than two friends were vegetarians, (in fact they weren't)and she was getting a great kick out of telling everyone that she was a vegetarian too but was not prepared to stop eating animal products in other foods which I felt was a contradiction (you either commit fully or not at all). If she had come to me with a valid reason (which could be one of many) then I would have supported her 100%.

I disagree with your view that my post is condecending towards vegetarians, it was a tongue in cheek (and exaggerated) post. I often posted 10 steps posts in this vain (again you are showing a lack of research) and my intention was never to offend anyone. I am sorry if I have offended you but I can assure no one is more loved and supported by me than my daughter.

Please excuse me Beccy, I actually meant that I was a first time commenter, not that you were a first time poster – my typo! I really did not try to come across as condemning you, I don't make it my business to go around flaming people at all. The combination of your post and the commenters, to me, did seem condescending but I understand that you disagree. I feel people too often dismiss the concept of vegetarianism as ridiculous, so that is the reason for my comment. Kids do jump on faddish bandwagons, which I said, but sometimes they aren't a fad at all. I also didn't say anything about your doing 10 steps? so I'm not sure where that lack of research issue is coming from. I know it is tongue in cheek, but I suppose it is a sensitive issue for some - my apologies

Annonymous, I have deleted your comment because it was downright rude and only demonstrated what an arrogant person you are. You clearly demonstrate your failure to read all my comments and have saaumed you know me. If my daughter seriously wanted to become a vegetarian I would have supported her 100% as I do in all aspects of her life. You do not know me so how dare you judge me. If you are brave enough to give yourself an identity I would have not deleted your comment but I have no time or respect for people who attack others whilst hiding behind their anonimity. A piece of advice: GROW UP.

beccy I didn't get to read the comment but your response is great. A sensible debate is healthy but snide remarks if that's what you got is not helpful. It's cowardly to hide behind *anonymous* and clearly this person isn't worth worrying about. We who know you (and Mollie) completely understood your post. One thing I find puzzling is that vegetarians are often very sensitive about any perceived slight on their chosen lifestyle! Us carnivores do not jump up and down and stamp our feet every time a vegetarian writes something about the evils of eating meat. Before you get more nasty comments I would say I respect everyone's personal choice and I have tried feeding a vegan, which I personally did not find easy. Oh and I remember taking my daughter to a certain shoe shop to meet her beliefs which I did willingly.

About Me

Born and bred in Bristol UK, I spent three years at university in Hull where I fell in love with an Irishman. Many years later I'm settled here in Dublin with Joules (the Irishman) and our three children, Dillon,14; Mollie,11 and Ben 7.